Automatic gravity cut-off-controlling apparatus



Nov. 11, 1930. M. BRIGHT 1,781,315

- AUTOMATIC GRAVITY CUT-OFF CONTROLLING APPARATUS Filed Aug.' 22 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l l i ui.

1 ATTORNEY.

NOV. 11, 1930. c; BRIGHT 1,781,315

AUTOMATIC GRAVITY CUT-OFF CONTROLLING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 22 25 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR:

A TTORNE Y.

Patented Nov. 11, 1930 UNITED STATES MARTIN G. BRIGHT, INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA AUTOMATIC GRAVITY CUT-OFF-CONTROLLING APPARATUS Application filed August 22, 1925.

. improved gravity-controlled apparatus for automatically controlling the cut-off of electrical or other energy required for operation of a motor or engine, to guard drivers or occupants of motor-vehicles against injury by fire which may result from wreckage involving the overturning of the motor-vehicle.

Another object is to provide an improved gravity controlling apparatus which shall be of such construction as to permit auto- 2 matic breaking of an electrical conducting circuit and also manual control of the circuit, and yet be of.simple and inexpensive con struction as an inducement to general adoption.

A further object is to provide an electrical switching apparatus of such construction for motor-vehicles as to be adapted to operate by the force of gravity, and to automatically cause breaking of an electrical-sparking circuit when the motor-vehicle is turned over in either one of a plurality of directions sufficiently in an accident likely to endanger the occupants thereof.

A still further object is to provide an 4.0 automatic circuit-breaking apparatus which shall be of such construction as to be adapted to be'applied in connection with various err-*- isting sparking circuit controls.

'lVith the above-mentioned and other objects in view. the invention consists in novel Serial No. 51,790.

the resulting wreckage; and the invention consists also further in the parts and combinations and arrangements ofparts as hereinafter particularly described and further defined in the accompanying claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawing,- Figure l is a central section of one specific form of the apparatus in normal position with the weight element thereof held in relatively shifted position; Fig. 2 is an inner face view of one of the parts of the apparatus base and parts in section on the plane of the line IIII in Fig.1; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary face View of the remaining part of the base and parts in section approximately on the line III-III in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section approximately on the line IVIVjin Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary reproduction of F ig. 2 with parts in relatively different positions; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary View similar to a portion of Fig. 3 with parts in relatively different positions; Fig. 7 is a fragmentary front view of the apparatus; Fig. 8 is a rear elevation of the modified form of the apparatus; Fig. 9 is a section approximately on the line IXIX in Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is a section on the line XX in Fig. 8 Fig. 11 is a fragmentaryreproduction of Fig. 8 showing parts thereof in relatively different positions; and Fig. 12 is a perspective view of one of the electrical switch parts used' in connection with the modified structure.

Similar reference characters in the various figures of the drawingsindicate corresponding elements or features of construction hereinafter referred tojin detail.

In practically carrying out the objects of the invention various specific structuresmay be adopted and the relative arrangement of elements may be varied, in every case a shiftable weight element, operating in either one of opposite directions by .the force of gravity to attain the object sought, being present in the apparatus; and, the electrical switch may be adapted to be mechanically opened under hand-control, or may be adapted to be mechanicaly closed under hand-control.

A preferred form of construction comprises a base which conveniently is composed of two parts 1 and 2 fixed together and having curved cavities 3 and 4 respectively in their inner sides, the two cavities together constituting a semi-circular guide channel,-the ends of the channel extending upwardly when the base is in normal position. The base is composed of suitable material to constitute an electrical insulator and may be adapted to support various devices on the motor-vehicle. The base being considered as being in normal position, the two parts have also recesses 5 and 6 extending downwardly from the lowermost portion of the a guide channel, and they have also grooves 7 and 8 respectively extending from the bottom of the recesses and forming a socket bore. The parts of the a base are rigidly secured together by means of bolts, 9, 10, 11, and preferably by a bolt 12 nearly in the central portion thereof. A heavy ball 13 is arranged in the guide channel to roll on the circumferential wall portion of the channel and normally rest at the lowermost portion thereof.

A stud or binding post 14 is tightly inserted in the lower portion of the base part 2 and extends slightly into the part 1 so as to form the bottom of the socket 8 and constitute an electrical conducting element. A coil spring 15 is arranged in the socket upon the stud and is expansible into the recesses 5 and 6, A contact or connector block 16 is guided for vertical movement in the recesses-and is supported upon the top of the spring which forces the block upward from the bottom of the, recess when the block is ,not weighted.

" The top of the block is concave to conform to the curvature of the guide channel and preferably has a slight depression 17 to receive the ball 13 and ordinarily retain the ball centrally on the block so that the weight of the ball shall force the block to the bottom of the I recess or cavity in which it is guided. A circuit wire 18 is connected to the stud or post 14 at the outer side of the part 2 and may constitute a part of an electric ignition system circuit.

A cup-shaped guide box 19 is tightly inserted 1n the lower portion of the base part 1 so as to be below the recess 5 and it has a plug '20 i secured in its lower open end, the plug having a binding post 21 thereon which is provided with a nut 22 whereby a circuit wire 23 is connected to the plug, the wire being adapted to have connection with the sparking circuit. A coil spring is seated upon the plug and is adzgted to constitute an electrical conductor. switch rod 25 is arranged for vertical movement in the guideway 26 in the part 1 and extends through the bottom of the box 19, the rod having a head 27 thereon arranged in the box and upon the spring 24 which yieldingly forces the rod upward so' as to slightly project into the recess 5 or against the bottom of the block 16 when the block is weighted, thus completing an electrical circuit between the wires 18 and 23, the

circuit to be broken automatically by action 'meansof a conventional switch lever and means to withdraw the switch rod- 25 from contact with the block 16; and to this end, a pivot bracket 28 is secured to the lower portion of the front of the base part 1, and a lever or finger 29 is pivoted at one end to the bracket and extends through a suitable opening in the I back of the head 27, whereby to retract the switch rod 25. A switch lever 30 isprovided with a supporting spindle 31 that is rotatively supported in the base, preferably centrally thereof, the spindle having a head 31 to which the lever is integrally connected. The lever has a cam 32 fixed thereto that is adapted to engage the top of the lever 29 when the lever is swung to vertical position and forces the lever 29 downward to break the circuit.

In the event of the overturning of the base in either one of opposite directions to an extent that would cause the ball 13 to roll out of the depression 17 and to one end of the guide channel, as when a motor-vehicle is overturned, resulting in the breaking of the sparking circuit, the ball is automatically locked to prevent its return. In providing locking apparatus the front of the part 1 preferably has a recess 33 arranged horizontally from the ends of which slots 34 and '35 extend through the wall of the part 1 to the recess 3 which forms a portion of the ball channel, and the front of the part 1 has pivot ears 36 and 37 adjacent to the recess. A locking part 1 and the box 7 and to the arm 38 is pivoted to the ears 36 and extends project into the channel recess 3 to stop return of the ball. The arm 38 has a relatively obtuse-angled trip finger 40 on its pivoted portion that is engaged by a coil spring 41 seated in the recess 33 to force the arm into operative position, and the arm 39 has a similar finger 42 on its pivoted portion that extends against the outside of the finger 40 and has a rounded outer face, the finger normally holding the arm 39 in operative position. The finger 42 is adapted to be engaged by the lever 30 when it is swung to vertical position for retracting the armsfrom the ball channel.

A modification of the apparatus having specifically different details comprise a base' 43 which is composed of electrical insulating material, and in the upper portion thereof a switch rod 44 horizontally guided which extends thrpugh the base and through a guide plate on the back of the base, the platev being an electrical conductor to which a cir cuit wire 18 is connected. The switch rod has a collar 46 thereon anda coil spring 47 is arranged under compression between-the collar and the plate 45, being in a channel 48 in the base which permits the spring to move the switch rod forward a suitable distance. A bushing 49 is secured in the base below the switch rod and rotatively supports a spindle 50 having a head 50 to which a switch lever or handle 30 is rigidly connected so'as to' be operated in a manner similar to that of the conventional sparking circuit switch lever.

: The spindle isretained'in place by means of a screw 51 and washer whereby a circuit wire 23 is connected to the spindle so as to be in electrical connection with the bushing 49.'

The head 50 has a finger 52 fixed thereto-that is adapted to be moved sidewise into contact with the front end of the switch rod 44 to force the rod back against the pressure of the spring 47. A switch plate 53 is pivotally 'for shifting the plate pivotally. Preferably a backing bar 57 is secured to the-base 43 and has a portion located opposite to the rear end of the switch rod 44, to assist in resisting the pressure of the rod against the contact portion 54 so as to insure proper electrical connection betweenthe plate and the rod. A

, pendulum rod 58 .is pivotally supported between its ends on the'bushing 49, preferably being metallic and having a non-conducting lower arm portion 58". The upper portion of the pendulum rod is arranged between the lugs 55 and 56 and has a head 59 thereon which is non-conducting if the rod 58 be metallic, thehead being so arranged as to be carried to either one of the lugs by the pendulum rod. The lower end of the pendulum rod or arm has a heavy weightelement 60 fixed thereto to n'ormally maintain the pendulum rod in approximately perpendicular position. The space between the lugs 55 and 56 permits a limited amount of swinging movement of the pendulum arm without moving the contact portion 54 away from the switch rod during the usual operation of a motor-vehicle. i I

In order to lock the pendulum arm against return to normal position after the motor-vehicle has overturned and caused swinging of the pendulum arm sufficiently to break the circuit, a plurality of locks are provided, pivot ears 61 and 62 being supported on the back of the base 43 at a suitable distance from the lower end of the base and spaced apart on opposite sides of the normal position of the pendulum arm, and two latch bars 63 and 64 are pivotally su ported between their ends on the ears respec ively, the ears extending horizontally behind the pendulum arm or rod. The latch-bars have ofli-set latch portions that are normally held yieldingly on the plane of movement of the pendulum arm by means of coil springs 65 and 66 respectively that are seated in sockets in the base and preferably have caps 67 and 68 on their ends that bear against the latch bars. Coil springs '69 and 70 are arranged behind the latch bars adjacent to their inner ends and'are seated in sockets 71 and 72 respectively which are movable in suitable sockets in the base and provided with push-rods 73' and 74 respectively to which a yoke 75 is secured, the face of the yoke being convexly curved or cam-shaped so as to be engaged and forced towardsthe base tomove the sockets when the lever 30 is swung to vertical position. The springs 69 and 70 are slightly weaker than the springs 65 and 66 so as to assist in rocking the latch bars when their outer ends are moved by the pendulum arm as it swings 7 against the off-set portions of the latch bars -to become locked against return after passing the ends of the bars. When the latch bars are required to be rocked to release the pendulum arm the springs69 and 7 0 will yield as the sockets. 71 and 72 are forced towards the bars, permitting the sockets to engage the bars and forcibly rock them in opposition to the springs 65 and 66.

It will be obvious from the foregoing description that the base of the controlling apparatus is to be mounted on the lnstrument board of a motor-vehicleso that the switch lever may be conveniently reached by an operator, the front of the base being approximately vertical on a transverse plane permitting the weight element to move transversely relatively to the motor-vehicle.

In practical use of the form of apparatus shown in Figures 1 to 7 inclusive, the weight ball is supported upon the connecting-block 16 which is held down and forms electrical circuit between the spring 15 and the switch rod 25, maintaining'electrical connection between the wires 18 and 23, the switch lever 30 being in inclined position as indicated by broken lines in Figures 3 and 7. to supply current in the ignition system. The circuit may be broken at will by swinging the lever 30 to vertical position which results in the cam 32 engaging the lever 29 which forces the rod 25 away from the block 16 as appearing in Figure 3 without disturbing the block 16 which would be held down by the ball as in Figures 5 and 6. The usual jolting due to operationof the motor-vehicle does not dis lodge the ball but in case of a serious accident resulting in overturning of the motor-vehicle,

in either one of opposite directions, the ball 13 inevitably rolls from the block 16 and pertus will readily be understood without furmits the spring 15 to push the block upward away from the rod 25 as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, thus breaking the electrical circuit, the'ball rolling to one end of its guide channel and pressing back its latch bar which is.

spring-pressed out again and prevents return of the ball. The motor being stopped for lack of electrical current no injury or damage can result which might be due to operation of the motor. lVhen an accident is imminent the current may be switched off manually, but in most cases manual switching is impossible or neglected, when an automatic breaking of the circuit must be relied upon to safeguard those who may be victims of the accident.

In the event that the motor-vehicle can be righted, the locked gravity ball prevents connection of the circuit; but the switch lever may be first swung to vertical or off position which automatically causes release movement of the latch bar 38 or 39, as -the case may be, permitting the ball to roll down and gravitate to its normal position upon the block 16, thus holding the block down in normal position to be engaged by the rod 25 when released by operation of the lever 30 in case it be desired to operate the motor.

In practical use of the form of apparatus shown in Figures 8 to 11 inclusive, which is suitable particularly for high-tension current, it will be apparent that in the ordinary operation of the automobile the connecting plate 53 is set behind the bar 57 or opposite to theswitch 'rod 44 which is spring-pressed back to break the circuit, the circuit being closed when the rod is forced by the finger 52 into contact withthe contact portion 54. The pendulum may swing a limited extent, as indicated by broken lines in Figure 8 without becoming latched or moving the connection plate 53, but in case of the motor-vehicle becoming overturned the pendulum rod is swung over sutliciently to cause movement of the connecting plate 53 so as to become disconnected from the switch rod .44, the relative positions being indicated in Figure 11, the pendulum rod having passed its latch bar and being prevented from returning. Following an overturning, in the event that the motor-vehicle is righted on a road the switch lever 30 is first moved to vertical position to carry the finger 52 away and release the switch rod 44, if need be, the lever operating the latch bars 63 and 64 so as to release the pendulum rod which then swings sufficiently to move the connecting plate 53 and bring the contact portion 54 into normal position opposite to the end of the retracted rod 44, after which the circuit may be normally established or be broken by manipulation of the lever 30. a

By reference to the foregoing description other results of the operation of the apparather detail description.

What is claimed as new is:

1. A cut-0ft controlling apparatus including a normally vertical base, a movable gravity-weight element, means co-operating with the base to support and guide the weight element for movement in either one of opposite directions on an arc, a switch lever pivoted on the base, an electrical switch supported by the base, means on the base enabling the lever to operate the switch, and means on the base enabling the weight eleme'nt upon movement in either one of the opposite directions to operate the switch.

2. A cut-ofi' controlling apparatus including a normally vertical base, a weight element, means co-operating with the base to movably guide the weight element in either one of opposite directions on an are, a switch lever pivoted on the base, an electrical switch supported by the base, means on the base controlled by the lever to control the switch, means on the base controlled by the weight element to control the switch, and a plurality means controlled by the lever supported on the base to lock the weight element against returnmovement.

3. A cut-ofi controlling apparatus includving a normally vertical base having a guide the switch rod, a lever pivotally supported.

on the base and adapted to engage the finger for withdrawing the switch rod from the connector block, and a gravity-controlled device operating to normally hold the connector block down to the switch rod, the device being shiftable to release the block upon the overturning of the base. Y 4. An automatic'gravity cut-off controlling. apparatus comprising a base to be vertically supported, an electrical switch element movably guided by the base, a spring co-operating with the base to move the switch element in one direction, an electrical circuit connector guided by means of the base and shiftable to the switch element to complete the circuit, a manually-operated switch lever pivotally supported by the base and a device on the-base controlled by the lever to engage and move the switch element in the opposite direction, a circuit wire having connection with the switch element, a circuit wire having connection with (the circuit connector, a I

weight element m'ovably guided by means of the base and operatingby the force of gravity in connection with the connector to shift the latter to the switch element, the weight element being free to move in one of different directions upon overturning of the base and adapted to control the breaking of the circuit by shifting of the connector from the switch element, and locking means mounted on the base automatically operating to engage and hold the weight element following its movement.

5. In an electrical cut-off controller, the

combination of a base to be vertically sup-' ported, an electrical switch rod supported for longitudinal movement in the base and provided with a spring to move the rod in one direction, a lever pivotally mounted on the base, a device on the base to be actuated by the lever to move the switch rod in the opposite direction, an electrical connector shiftably supported by means of the base to be connected with the switch rod, a circuit wire having electrical connection with the switch rod, a circuit Wire having electrical connection with the connector, and a gravitycontrolled device movably guided in the base for controlling the connector to automatically disconnect the connector from the switch rod upon overturning of the base. 6. In an electrical cut-ofl' controller, the combination of a normally vertical base having a curved guide channel therein, the ends of the channel being higher than the main portion of the channel, the base having a recess at the lowermost portion of the channel and a vertical socket bore at the bottom of the recess, a conducting stud secured in the base and extending to the bottom of the socket bore, an electrical conducting connector block vertically guidednin said recess, a conducting spring in said bore and seated on said stud and supporting said block above the bottom of said recess, a: switch element supported in the base and normally projecting yieldingly into said recess, means to manually withdraw the switch element, and a weight ball movably guided in said channel and normally supported upon said block and holding the block down in the recess. 7. In an electrical cut-off controller, the combination of a normally vertical base havlng a guide cavity therein, a conducting electrical connector block vertically movable in the cavity, a conducting circuit spring yieldingly supporting the block in the cavity above the bottom thereof, an electrical switch rod vertically movable in the base below the cavity, a spring supported in the base and yieldingly pushing the switch rod partially into the cavity, a finger pivotally supported by the base and having operative connection with the switch rod, a lever pivotally supported on the base and having a cam thereon to be carried into contact with the finger for withdrawing the switch rod from the connector block, and a gravity-controlled device supported by the base and operating to normally hold the connector block down to the switch rod, the device being shiftable to reiease the block upon the overturning of the ase.

8. In an electrical cut-off controller, the combination of a normally vertical base having a curved transversely arranged guide channel therein, the ends of the channel being higher than the middle portion thereof, an electrical switch rod supported in the base below the channel, an electrical connector block movably. guided in the base below the channel to be depressed to the switch rod, an electrical conducting spring supported in the base and yieldingly supporting the connector block above the switch rod, a weight ball movably arranged in the guide channel and normally gravitating onto the connector block and depressing the block to the switch rod, the ball automatically shifting to one end of the channel and releasing said block when the base is overturned, two latch bars movably supported by the base and spring-pressed to normally project into the guide channel behind the ball when at the end of the channel, and means to retract the latch bars simultaneously.

9. In an electrical cut-off controller, the combination of a normally vertical base having a curved transversely arranged guide channel therein, the two opposite ends of the channel being the higher portions thereof, an electrical switch element supported in the base below the channel, an electrical connector device yieldingly supported and guided in the base below the channel, a weight ball movably arranged in the guide channel and normally gravitating onto the connector device and depressing the device to the switch element, the ball automatically shifting to one of the two ends of the channel and releasing said connector device when the base is overturned, two latch bars movably supported by the base and spring-pressed to norloo mally project into the guide channel behind 

